Polyalkylene bis-1



May 7, 1957 w. c. AUSTIN EI'AL 2,791,582

POLYALKYLENE BI S-l-(4METHYL QUINALDINIUMS) Filed Jan. 17, 1956 Mean weight in grams.

I I I I 5 1O 15 2O 25 Weeks ABSENCE OF GROWTH INHlBITION IN YOUNG RATS BY DECAMETHYLENE 1=10BIS-4-AMINOQUINALDIN1UM DICHLORIDE ADMINISTERED IN DRINKING WATER o--o O-5/Deccmetf1y\ene 1:10-bis-4-dminoqumuldinium dichloride O-1l. Decum'ethylenehw-bis-4-uminoquinclldlnium dichloride No addition.

nited States Patent POLYALKYLENE BIS-1-(4-METHYL QUINALDINIUMS) William Charles Austin and Henry Oswald Jackson Collier, Bethnal Green, London, Michael David Potter, Nottingham, and Edwin Percival Taylor, Bethnal Green, London, England, assignors to Allen & Hanburys Limited, London, England, a British company Application January 17, 1956, Serial No. 559,718

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 12, 1953 8 Claims. (Cl. 260286) The invention relates to heterocyclic polymethylenebis-quaternary ammonium salts and is a continuation-inpart of our application Serial No. 464,892, filed October 26, 1954, now abandoned.

The novel compounds of the present invention are heterocyclic polymethylene-bis-quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula:

NH: NHa

where n is an integer of from 4 to 20 inclusive and X is an anion, for example a halogen. Y

The compounds of the present invention are useful antimicrobial agents.

The present invention also includes a process ,for the manufacture of the novel compounds of the present invention wherein one molecular proportion of a polymethylene dihalide containing from four to twenty inclusive carbon atoms in the molecule and more than two molecular proportions of 4-amino-quinaldine are heated together in an organic solvent for 48 to 450 hours.

The product may be isolated by cooling the reaction mixture and filtering 01f the solid; it may then be purified by recrystallisation.

Examples of organic solvents which may be used are: methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl carbinol, ethyl carbonate and nitromethane.

Preferably the heating is elfected under reflux.

The resulting quaternary halide may be converted by conventional methods, e. g. double decomposition into other quaternary salts, such as the nitrate or methosulphate.

The following examples illustrate the invention:

EXAMPLE 1.PREPARATION OF TETRAMETH- YLENE 1:4-BIS-4-AMINO-QUINALDINIUM DI- IQDIDE 0.51 g. of 4-amino-quinaldine, 0.34 g. of tetramethylene di-iodide and 20 ml. of methyl ethyl ketone were refluxed together for 400 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered off, washed with methyl ethyl ketone, and recrystallised from a mixture of methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol. The product was an off-white microcrystalline powder, melting point 340-341 C. (with decomposition) EXAMPLE 2.PREPARATION OF PENTAMETH- YLENE 1:5-BIS-4-AMINO-QUINALDINIUM DI- IODIDE 0.94 g. of 4-amino-quinaldine, 0.65 g. of. pentamethylene di-iodide and 10 ml. of methyl ethyl ketone were Patented May 7, 1957 ice refluxed together for 104 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered olf, washed with methyl ethyl ketone, and recrystallised from a mixture of methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol. The product was a pale pink tinted powder, melting point 293-294 C. (with decomposition).

EXAMPLE 3.PREPARATION OF HEXAMETHYL- ENE l:6-BIS-4-AMINO-QUINALDINIUM DI-IO- DIDE 42 g. of 4-amino-quinaldine, 35 g. of hexamethylene di-iodide and 350 ml. of methyl isobutyl carbinol were heated together at C. for 76 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered off, washed with methyl ethyl ketone, and recrystallised from ethyl alcohol containing a little methyl alcohol. The product was an almost white microcrystalline powder. Melting point 295296 C. (with decomposition).

EXAMPLE 4.PREPARATION OF HEXAMETHYL- ENE l 6-BIS-4-AMINO-QUINALDINIUM- DI-PER- CHLORATE EXAMPLE 5.-PREPARATION OF HEPTAMETH- YLENE l :7-BIS-4-AMINO-QUTNALDINIUM DI- IODIDE 0.47 g. of 4-arnino-quinaldine, 0.35 g. of heptamethylene di-iodide and 15 ml. of methyl ethyl ketone were refluxed together for 310 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered off, washed with methyl ethyl ketone and recrystallised from ethyl alcohol. The product consisted of cream coloured granules. Melting point 297 C. (with decomposition).

EXAMPLE 6.PREPARATION OF OCTAMETHYL- ENE l:8-BIS-4AMINOQUINALDINIUM DI-IO- DIDE 0.3 g. of 4-amino-quinaldine, 0.24 g. of octamethylene di-iodide and 15 ml. of methyl ethyl ketone were refluxed together for 180 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered off, washed with methyl ethyl ketone, and recrystallised from the minimum amount or" ethyl alcohol. The product was an off-white microcrystalline powder. Melting point 294295 C. (with decomposition).

EXAMPLE 7.-PREPARATION OF NONAMETHYL- ENE l:9-BlS-4-AMINO-QUINALDINIUM DI-IO- DIDE 0.47 g. of 4-amino-quinaldine, 0.38 g. of nonamethylene di-iodide and 15 ml. of methyl ethyl ketone were refluxed together for 380 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered off, washed with methyl ethyl ketone and recrystallised from a mixture of methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol. The product was a cream coloured powder. Melting point 288-289 C. (with decom position) EXAMPLE 8.-PREPARATION OF DECAMETH- YLENE 1:10 BIS 4 AMINO-QUINALDINIUM DI-IODIDE (a) 15 g. of 4-amino-quinaldine, 15 g. of .decamethylene di-iodide and 200 ml. of methyl ethyl ketone were 3 refluxed together for 4.00 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered off, washed with methyl ethyl ketone, and recrystallised from ethyl alcohol containing a little methyl alcohol.

(b) 160 g. of 4-amino-quinaldine, 174 g. of decamethylene di-iodide and 1,500 ml. of methyl isobutyl carbinol were heated together at 120 C. for 90 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered 01f, washed with methyl ethyl ketone and recrystallised from ethyl alcohol containing a little methyl alcohol.

The product obtained by both (a) and (2:) consisted of a cream coloured powder. Melting point 308309 C. (with decomposition).

EXAMPLE 9. -PREPARATION OF DECAMETH- YLENE 1:10 BTS 4 AMlNO-QUlNALDlNiUM DI-NITRATE 1.0 g. of decamethylcne lzl-bis-4-amino-quinaldinium di-iodide was dissolved in 150 ml. of boiling ethyl alcohol and a solution of 0.5 g. of silver nitrate in 20 ml. of boiling ethyl alcohol was added. Silver iodide precipitated almost immediately. The reaction mixture was refluxed for five minutes, filtered, and the filtrate evaporated down to 30 ml. A small quantity of warm ether was then added to the solution and the resulting precipitate was filtered off and recrystallised from a mixture of ethyl alcohol and ether. The product consisted of small white needles. Melting point 299-301 C. (with decomposition) EXAMPLE l0.-PREPARATEON OF D'ECAMETH- YLENE 1:10 BIS 4 AMINOQUINALDINIUM DICHLORIDE (a) 0.1 g. of decamethylene 1:10-bis-4-amino-quinaldinium di-nitrate was dissolved in 50 ml. of warm water and the solution saturated with sodium chloride. The precipitate was filtered ofl, washed with a minimum amount of water, and recrystallised from ethyl alcohol.

(b) 0.27 g. of decamethylene 1:10-bis-4-amino-quinaldinium di-iodide was dissolved in the minimum quantity of boiling methyl alcohol, and 0.2 g. of silver chloride added. The mixture was refluxed for 5 hours, filtered and the methyl alcohol removed from the filtrate. The residue was recrystallised from ethyl alcohol.

The product obtained by both (a) and (b) was a white powder. Melting point 3l7-3l8 C. (with decomposition).

EXAMPLE ll.-PREPARATION OF DODECAMETH- YLENE 1:12 BIS 4 AMlNO-QUINALDINIUM DI-IODIDE 0.47 g. of 4-amino-quinaldine, 0.42 g. of dodecamethylene di-iodide and ml. of methyl ethyl ketone were refluxed together for 350 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered oil, washed with methyl ethyl ketone, and recrystallised from a mixture of methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol. The product was an off-white powder. Melting point 29l292 C. (with decomopsition) EXAMPLE l2.PREPARATION OF TETRADECA- METHYLENE 1:14 BIS 4 AMINO-QUINAL- DINIUM Dl-IODIDE 0.62 g. of 4-arnino-quinaldine, 0.60 g. of tetradecamethylene di-iodide and 30 ml. of methyl ethyl ketone were refluxed together for 400 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered ofl, washed with methyl ethyl ketone and recrystallised from a mixture of ethyl alcohol and ether. The product was an olfwhite microcrystalline powder. Melting point 266267 C. (with decomposition).

EXAMPLE 13.PREPARATION OF OCTADECA- METHYLENE 1:18 BIS 4 AMINO-QUINAL- DINIUM DL-IODIDE 0.26 g. of 4=amino-quinaldine, 0.27 g. of octadecamethylene (ii-iodide and 1 0 ml. of methyl ethyl ketone were refluxed together for 270 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered off, washed with methyl ethyl ketone and recrystallised from a mixture of ethyl alcohol and ether. The product was a White microcrystalline powder. Melting point 253254 C. (with decomposition) EXAMPLE 14.PREPARATIQN OF ElCOSAlfI-E 1:2U-BIS-4-AMINO-QUINALDINIUM DI-IODIDE 0.4 g. of 4-amino-quinaldine, 0.53 g. of eicosane diiodide and 15 ml. of methyl ethyl ketone were refluxed together for 450 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool, the precipitate filtered off, washed with methyl ethyl ketone, and recrystallised from ethyl alcohol. The product was a cream coloured powder. Melting point 24l242 C. (with decomposition).

EXAMPLE l5.PREPARATION OF DECAMETH- YLENE 1:10 BIS 4 AMINO -QUINALDlNI-UM DIACETATE 5.3 g. of decamethylene 1:l0-bis-4-aminoquinaldinium dichloride prepared as in Example 10, 4.5 g. of silver acetate and 150 ml. of methyl alcohol were heated together under reflux for 17 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate refluxed for one hour with 0.25 g. of charcoal. This mixture was then filtered and the solvent removed from the filtrate by evaporation. The residue was added to ml. of acetone and the mixture refluxed for half-an-hour. The mixture was then filtered and the solid material collected, dissolved with warming in 20 ml. of methyl alcohol and this solution was" added with stirring to ml. of warm acetone. when cold, the precipitated solid was filtered oh and washed with acetone and recrystallised from a mixture of ethyl alcohol and" acetone. The product was a white microcrystalline powder, melting point 282-284 C. (with decomposition).

EXAMPLE l6.-PREPAR-ATION OF DECAM-ETH- YLENE 1:10 BIS 4 AMINOQUI-NALDINIUM DIBENZOATE 5.3 g. of decamethyle'ne 1:10 bis 4'-aminoquinaldinium dichloride, prepared asin Example 10, 5 g'. of silver benzoate' and 150ml. of m'etyl alcohol were heated under reflux for 17 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate refluxed for one hour with 0.25 g of charcoal. This mixture was then filtered and the solvent removed from the filtrate by evaporation. The residue was recrystallised from ethyl alcohol. The product was a white crystalline substance, melting point 278 C. (with decomposition).

EXAMPLE 1 7.PR EPARAT1 ON OF DECAME'lI-FYL- ENE 1:10-BIS-4 AMINO-QUINALDINIUM DI-UN- DECYLBNATE 150g. of decamethylene l:l'O-bis-4-aminoquinaldinium di ehloride', prepared asin Example 10, 25 g. of silver undecylenate and 450 ml. of methyl alcohol were heated together under. reflux for 20 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture wasfiltered and the filtrate refluxed for one hour with 0.5 .g'. of charcoal. The mixture wast'hen filtered and the solvent removed from the filtrate by evaporation. The residue was stirred with 150 ml. of ethyl alcohol, mixture was filtered and the solvent re moved from thefiltrate' by evaporation. The residue was added to three successive portions of 100 ml. each of acetone and thermixture refluxed. The mixture was then filtered, the' solid material collected and dried, and recrystallised from a mixture of ethyl alcohol and acetone. The product consisted of whitemicrocrystalline needles, melting point 245-247 C. (with decomposition) The antimicrdtital activity of the compounds of the present invention has been investigated and the results the present invention are active against a wide range of' are given below: microorganisms and that they have the additional advan- Table I.Activities of some polymethylene-bis-4-amino- {age of actmty agamst straws whlch are reslstam to penicillin. 5 In order to determine whether or not the activity of these compounds resides in the cation, a number of salts [Readings afiermays at OJ were prepared and tested for activity against the same organism. The result of these tests is given in Table III below from which it can be seen that the anion has no quinaldinium di-iodia'es against 4 bacterial species in peptone water Geometric Mean Minimal Inhibitory Concentration in g. per ml.

of ng gl ifi Groups significant eifect upon the activity.

Staph. Mylco. P. oul- Pain/0- Table IIl.Activity of some polymethylene 1:10-bis- 4-amin0qainaldinium salts against Staphylococcus aureus in dextrose e tone water 0.67 1.97 100 100- 100 /p p in w ii a9 01 79 35: 4 84: 1 gggg igggyg 0.67 1.69 70 7 100 salt tion in FE 0.99 3.95 70.7 100 m1 at 18 hours 2. 4s 70. 7 100 100 in terms of active cation In tube dilution tests the results of which are expressed in Table II the following media were used: giggfigg (a) Fungi: Sabourauds broth. Iodide; (b) Actinomyces dermatonomus: 1% peptone in water ggfg containing 0.5% dextrose, 0.5% sodium chloride, 1% Acetate beef extract, the medium being adjusted to pH 7.2. ggggigg (c) Streptococcus pyogenes: 10% horse serum was added after autoclaving to the following medium1% peptone in water containing 0.5% dextrose and 0.5% sodium chloride and adjusted to pH 7.2. O z 2 235: g gg g Dubos medmm Wnh tration of 100 pg. per ml. the compound killed more (e) Remaining organisms: 1% peptone in water containthan 9999 percent of the organisms ing 05% dextro e and 0.5% odium hloride a d Table IV.Bactericidal action of decamethylene 1:10- adjusted to pH 7.2. bis-4-aminoquinaldinium dinitrate on Staphylococcus Table II.Actz'vity of decamethylene 1:10-bis-4-am-in0- aureus m bufiered saline at PH for 1 hour 4,189

quinaldiniam di-iodide against various microbial species The results of an experiment to determine the bactericidal action of decamethylene 1:10-bis-4-aminoquinaldinium dinitrate are given below (Table IV); at a concen- Mean Number [The numbers in brackets indicate the number of strains tested] Concentration of Drug in pg. per m1. of surviilrors per I11 Geometric Mean Minimal Inhibitory Concentration in g. per ml. at- 10 Microbial Species 10 2x10 24 hrs. 5 days 14 days 28 days 4X18: 10 Actinomyces dermatonomus 0. 63 0. 63 10 Bacterium coli 6. 87 11.9 Bacillus subtilis.- 2.50 2.50 I ltglrynebizctlenum dzphthenae-. 2.31 %.35 When virulent organisms are administered to mice g g g iif gf iffj fij intraperitoneally and a drug is given half an hour later Mqcoba cteriumtuberculosis". by the same route it is argued that the main protective Nezsserza catarrhalzs 1.25 2.5 ff d Pseudommas pymwma 4L0 6% e ect is e to its direct action on bacteria at or near the Proteus vulgar1s (2) o-sas 63 040.7 site of llljectlOn. The local therapeutic action of some Salmonella dublm- 25.0 50.0 salmonellatyphi 270 M0 of the compounds has been investigated in this manner Salmonella typhimurium- 25. 0 50. 0 staphylococcus aureus and the results of these experiments involving 888 mice ()N491) 3 0 35 are recorded below. Staphylococcus aureus (2) 0.63 0.63-0.88 Streptococcus agazacuae 063 (L88 The compound was in ected into mice infected with ggrepgococc'usiysgazlacfiae (2) lethal doses of Streptococcus pyogenes or of Staphylococrep ococcus aeca is 1. 66 2.79 Streptococcuspmmmm 25 M cits aureu There was a considerablerange of dosage ag Megan which protected mice against the infection. The results 1 1.10 1.10 Streptococcus pyogenes 031-088 0. 44-1. 25 he test gwen m Table V i m which. LDSO sz m mm (2) o, 9 indicates toxicity of the compound in infected mice and ZQf ZF'P EDSO its protective action. Microsporum ccm's Trichophyton mentagrophytea Table V Trichophyton rubrum Trichophyton l/cll LD50=|= EDEOd: Compound Organism Standard Standard Decamethylene 1:10-b1s-4-aminoqu1naldinium dichlo- Error Ermiride was also tested against 12 penicillin resistant strains l of Staphylococcus aureus recently isolated at the London ifiggfggggg g ggg aga 3223 963 Hospital and against 11 other penicillin resistant strains ori from various other sources isolated since 1951. The 70 Do ggfg fg 15 lit) 14 compound was active against every one of these 23 g et yl e :12- .do 16.98=|:8.88 0.63:};0.09 st bis-4-aminoqinnaldinrains, the minimal inhibitory concentration in dextrose ium dmodidg peptone medium after 5 days incubation being 0.312 to 1.25 pg. per ml. The inhibitory activity of decamethylene- 1:10-bis-4- From the above it can be seen that the compounds of aminoquinaldinium dichloride in the presence of sera was investigated and compared with that of other antibacterial compounds in current use and from Table VI Table VI .-.-Efiect of sera n the inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus by antibacterial agents in peptone water at 37 C.

Minimal Inhibitory Concentra- Serum added tion in ng. Antibacterial to Medium per ml.

24 hrs. days None 0. 31 0. 31 I rabbiL.-- 0. 31 0. 63 Decamethylcnc 1:10-bis-4-aminoquln- 10% bovine 0. 63 0. 63 aldinium dichloride. 10% horse--... 0. 63 0. 63 10% human 0.31 0. 63 human. O. 1 one 0. Getmmde {10% hurnarno. 12 5 Bonzalkonium chloride I: g g: 3 None 0. 31 0. 31 Dmlphqn bmmde {10% human 1. 5s a. 13 Chlorhexidine diacetstc {53%25 a 1 1 f? The acute toxicities in mice of some of the compounds of the present invention are given below:

Table VIL-A cute toxicities of some polymethylene 1:10- bis-4-amin0quinalclinium salts Administered orally in 5% suspension in water 2 g. per kg. of body weight of .decamethylene 1:10-bis-4- aminoquinaldinium dichloride failed to kill any of 20 mice.

The sub-acute toxicity of decamethylene lzl0-bis-4- aminoquinaldinium dichloride has also been investigated and it has been found that solutions containing 2 mg. of decarnethylene l:l0 bis-4-aminoquinaldinium dichloride per ml. in normal saline had no apparent effect on the eyes of rabbits when instilled daily over a period of 2 weeks. 0.4% of decamethylene 1: l0-bis-4-aminoquinaldinium dichloride or clecamethylene 1:10-bis-4-aminoquinaldininm di-iodide in creams were applied daily over a period of 4 weeks to the shaved skins of rabbits without evoking any reaction. Similar experiments with decamethylcne l:l0-bis-4-aminoquinaldiniurn dichloride were performed on hairless mice with the same result whereas application of chloroform to an area of skin resulted in a sharp reaction within 24 hours after the second application. This reaction consisted of erythema, induration and brownish pigmentation followed by some necrosis.

In chronic toxicity tests all rats receiving "0.05% of decarnethylene l:10-bis-4-aminoquinaldinium dichloride in their drinking water for 26 weeks survived. Compared with control animals, rats receiving decamethylene l:l0-bis-4-aminoquinaldinium dichloride in their drinking water showed no depression of growth, as is shown in the accompanying drawing. It will be seen from Table VIII below that blood examinations showed no substantial difference between treated and untreated rats. Histological examination of sections of brain, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, thyroid, spleen, kidney, heart, lungand ovary of all rats showed no pathological effects attributable to the compound.

8 Table VIIl.Mean values obtained from blood examination of rats receiving clecamethylene 1:10-bis-4-amin0 quinaldinium dichloride in their drinking water for 26 weeks [L=lyrnphocytes: M=monocytesz N=nentrophils: B=basophils1 Per- Erythro- Lencocent cytes per cytes per haemomrnflX mrnfiX globln 10 10 Difierential counts, percent Percent drug in water Laud N E B In view of the fact that unlike many quaternary ammonium salts, the activity of the compounds of the present invention is very little affected by the presence of serum and inview also of their activity against penicillinresistant strains of staphylococcus, it was thought that these compounds might encourage uneventful healing of wounds by preventing and combating infection. A clinical trial is in progress in which decamethylene lzl0-bis- 4-aminoquinaldininm dichloride is being used as an agent for preventing infection and for combating existing infection in oral wounds. In the past, the treatment of such wounds has been directed almost entirely to the prevention and control of post-operative haemorrhage. For this purpose the materials used have been, for example, alginates, oxidised cellulose, fibrin foam and gelatin sponge. Gelatin sponge has, on the whole, been the most satisfactory material, but has the disadvantage that in open wounds it frequently becomes foul with a consequent impairment of healing. Local application of penicillin has not been satisfactory for this purpose according to Holland and Tain (1954), Oral. Surg. Med. and Path, 7, 145, who reported that in a clinical study of 560 dental extraction Wounds 15,000-150,000 units of crystalline penicillin were inserted as tablets in 274 cases and as a control, tablets consisting of sterile lactose were inserted into 286 similar wounds. Their conclusions were, This study indicates that the introduction of pure crystalline penicillinGtablcts into extraction wounds in doses of 15,000 to 150,000 units does not significantly reduce the incidence of wheal osteitis In the" present trial a gelatin sponge impregnated with dccamethyl'ene l:10-biS-4-amindquinaldinium dichloride has been used to prevent infection in oral wounds and as a post-operative dressing in cases where infection exists. In no case where the decamethylene l:lO-bis-4-aminoquinaldinium dichloride impregnated material was used for post-operative haemorrhage did infection occur, although infected dental extraction wounds had been experienced with the use of gelatin sponge alone and with oxidised cellulose gauze. In the trial which is still proceeding more than 200 cases have been treated and there has been no failure of decamethylene l:l0-bis-4-aminoquinaldinium dichlo ride as a prophylactic and treatment of infected Wounds and sockets has in every case been effective where decarnethylene 1:l0 bis-4-arninoquina1dinium dichloride has been applied.

What we claimis:

l. Hcterocyclic polymethylenc-bis-quatcrnary ammonium salts of the general formula:

where n is an integer of from 4 to 20 inclusive and X is an anion.

2. Heterocyclic polymethylene-bis-quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula:

w i (1N; o m

where n is an integer of from 4 to 20 inclusive and X is a halogen.

3. Hexarnethylene chloride.

4. Octamethylene chloride.

5. Decamethylene l:l0-bis-4-amino-quinaldinium dichloride.

6. Dodecarnethylene 1:12-bis-4-amino-quinaldinium dichloride.

1 :6-bis-4-amino-quinaldinium di- 1 :8-bis-4-amino-quinaldinium diwhere n is an integer of from 4 to 20 inclusive and X is an anion, which comprises heating one molecular proportion of a polymethylene dichloride containing from four to twenty inclusive carbon atoms in the molecule with more than two molecular proportions of 4-aminoquinaldine in an organic solvent for 48 to 450 hours.

No references cited. 

1. HETEROCYCLIC POLYMETHYLENE-BIS-QUATERNARY AMMONIUM SALTS OF THE GENERAL FORMULA:
 8. A PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HETEROCYCLIC POLYMETHYLENE-BIS-QUATERNARY AMMONIUM SALTS OF THE GENERAL FORMULA: 